New films, extra venue: Montgomery Film Festival opens at Sanctuary, continues at Capri
Variety is what the Montgomery Film Festival has always been about, and for year 14 it’s kicking that up a notch with a new location in the mix.
“It’s always a good time bringing something to Montgomery that should be cool and interesting,” said Anton Jackson, director for the Montgomery Film Festival
While the Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18, films are being screened in their usual home at the Capri Theatre, 1045 E. Fairview Ave., the festival is opening for the first time Thursday, Nov. 16, at The Sanctuary (aka Jubilee Community Center), 432 Goldthwaite St.
“They’ve become a very popular and vibrant spot for a lot of events,” Jackson said. “We figured it would be a good time to host a screening there.”
That Thursday at 7 p.m., the film will be “Hello Dankness,” a wild ride of a film with a lot of familiar acting faces. It'll take viewers back to election time in 2016. Presented by Soda Jerk, this 2022 Australian film is a kaleidoscope of American society. It weaves together clips from hundreds of films, TV shows, and internet media.
“It tells a really wild and hilarious story,” Jackson said.
The film that’s the Alabama centerpiece of this year’s film festival is “Don’t Die” on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. It’s a medical crime drama directed by Benjamin Stark, and co-written by Stark and Jeremy Burgess. It stars Thaodus Crane (“The Walking Dead”), Alabama native Virginia Newcomb (“The Death of Dick Long,” “The Beta Test”), and Joshua Burge (“The Revenant,” “Relaxer”).
“It’s a really good Alabama production,” Jackson said. “It won the audience award out at Sidewalk Film Festival a couple of months ago. I’m really, really excited to showcase that one.”
In the film, a man called Jenks is so desperate for life-saving medicine that he robs a small town drug store. In the process, he injures a woman involved in a black market pharmacy and must risk his life to save hers.
“Jeremy came up with the idea for a black market pharmacy,” Stark said. “We realized there’s a lot of relevant and rich ground there to cover.”
This is a return to the Montgomery Film Festival for Stark. In 2016, he offered the short film “Dead Saturday” with actor Eric Roberts — which Stark also co-wrote with Burgess.
“Ever since then, it’s been a festival that I’ve really wanted my films to play at,” Stark said.
This year’s cult classic presentation is the 1977 Italian film “Suspiria,” Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. The story focuses on an American who joins a German ballet company but discovers the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of murders.
“I’m really excited to present that on the big screen for the first time,” Jackson said.
Admission is separate for each screening or group of screenings. Links to purchase tickets for each section are available online at montgomeryfilmfestival.com.
Jackson hopes people come prepared to see something new that they might not have experienced otherwise.
Other Film Festival offerings
All of these are happening at the Capri Theatre.
NOV. 17
Alabama Short films
Start at 6:30 p.m.
“Good Condition” – 9 minute film by Frank Mosley of Los Angeles. Barry’s starting over.
“Lakebed” – 10 minute film by Nora Stone of Alabama. Patty is struggling to find anything that makes sense after relocating for her husband’s job.
“Blue Hour: 15 minute film by J.D. Shields of Los Angeles. A photographer and her subject leaves a mark on both women during a photo session.
“Future Boys” – 11 minute film by Julian Clark of Alabama. A permanent tenant of a virtual reality housing gets a rogue transmission.
“#Bossbabe” – 12 minute film by Kassey Bascho of Ontario, Canada. Sofi throws a recruitment party for her girlfriends for a pyramid scheme.
Short film tickets also include a double horror double feature at 8 p.m: “Variant” and “Variant II.” The 83 minute presentation by Joe Meredith is an Alabama spotlight. A deadly alien embryo gets into the hands of a deranged man, and sparks the rise of mutant dead.
“There’s a lot of gore,” Jackson said. “That’s for more of the ‘Fangoria’ horror crowd.”
NOV. 18
Black Uniform
Starting at 1:30 p.m., this is a 90-minute film by Robert Darwell. It requires it's own ticket for admission. From the segregated military of the past to the disproportionate service of minorities today, “Black Uniform” is the untold stories of 12 Black veterans — including 104-year-old Romay Davis of Montgomery.
Narrative and documentary shorts
Begin at 3:45 p.m., and there are five included with a ticket:
“Monograph: Paul Rogers” – 6 minute film by Kelsey Harrison ianuzzi of Alabama. Rogers is the Academy Award-winning editor of “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
“The Countryman” – 21 minute film by Andy Kastelic of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A stranger arrives in a small farming community with a curious proposition that might save them.
“35205” – 15 minute film by Ilya Blokh and Daniel Blokh of Alabama. A look at Birmingham’s DIY punk scene in a post-COVID era.
“Banned” – 3 minute film by Kristin Dober of Alabama. A state senator gets books banned, but then has to seek one of them out.
“Don’t Look In The Closet” – 3 minute film by Skylar Patterson of Alabama. After a night out, Tommy comes home to a missing wife and an evil presence.
Experimental shorts and music videos
Start Nov. 18 at 10 p.m. and is all included with one ticket.
“A Body Appeared At The Lake” – 4 minute film by Brian Ratigan of New York. Random images and found footage used to examine what happened at the lake.
“HDYK” – 4 minute film by Alex T. Jacobs. A conversation about what’s real, through a heavily damaged signal, starring Bianca Martin.
“Natura Artis Magistra” - 2 minute film by Katherine Baisley of Atlanta. It’s a stop-motion collage of flowers and nature in bloom.
“One For Each” – 5 minute film by Anquanizia Hall of Meridian, Mississippi. Strange things are happening at a birthday gathering.
“Snow Light” – 8 minute film by Alex T. Jacobs of Madison Wisconsin. Colors and snowfall surround a street lamp.
Demetrix “Run Away” – 3 minute music video by Mike Bean of Alabama.
Seriously “Darkroom” – 4 minute music video by Barbara Baron of Alabama.
Snooper “Running” – 5 minute music video by Sean McGuirk of Los Angeles.
Optic Sink “Modelesque” – 6 minute music video by Noah Thomas of Memphis.
Chayse Porter “Rolls of 35” – 3 minute music video by Andrew Knives.
Electric Blue Yonder “Schtick Shift” – 5 minute music video by Irby Pace of Alabama.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery Film Festival opens at Sanctuary, continues at Capri
